Sweet Home Ellabama : Week 62: A Perfect Puzzle

Two weeks ago I was with a different sister missionary in her area. We met a girl named Tylisha very briefly in a parking lot. Two days ago I was back with the same sister in her area, and she suggested we go see Tylisha! I agreed, so we biked a few miles in the rain until we got there. Sadly, she wasn't home.

We decided to knock on her neighbors door. A man answered who handed off the responsibility of talking to us to his roommate, who clearly wasn't interested. He shut the door before we could say much. We walked away and began to cross the street when we heard a voice, "hey wait!" We looked back and noticed the girl speaking to us had come out of the house where we had just been denied.

Confused and a little nervous (thinking she would yell at us or try to get us in trouble), we went back. This beautiful 24 yo black girl looked at us with hope and excitement in her eyes, like a little child about to open a present, and asked, "what time do your services start on sunday?" Appalled, we said, "11 am". She replied, "I will be there! I'm sorry my roommates didn't let you in. I'm actually a member of your church. I haven't been since I was a little girl but I know it's time for me to get back with God. There are 5 girls in my family, and my sister just passed away. I need it." We all felt our hearts burn within us and didn't really know what to say. It was one of those moments in life where everything is so beautiful and perfect that it's almost surreal. We said a prayer right there, in the middle of the pitch black parking lot.

I am continually amazed at how perfect God's timing is. Before we met Tylisha we were in line at a store to buy some things, but had a thought that we needed to leave the items behind and go outside. Because we obeyed, we crossed Tylisha's path, right when she was going into a different store. If we were 30 seconds earlier or later, we wouldn't have met her. Because we did, we were led to someone who really needed us. God's timing is like a perfect puzzle. Every interaction and experience is woven together for our good. I am so grateful to be apart of it.

I know God is real. He listens to us. He loves us. He answers prayers. He knows exactly how we feel and what we are going through. He sends us comfort. He sends us angels. I see that everyday and I love it.
Love,

Sister Madsen

post mlc!! love these sisters!

zone training!! we put up these lights to set the mood. hahah

just biking over the busy road!!

PatienTS is the key. Thank you Alabama for your awesome spelling!!! hahha

we saw this person running/waving his hands in random directions...it was hilarious! so we stopped to talk to him. he is training for college basketball in the rain! hahah so we taught him about the gospel and became friends.

you cant really see but we made elaborate haystacks when we got stuck inside for tornado warnings!! we were so mad we just wanted to go work! but we made the best of it!